Georgia LB Richard Samuel agrees to move back to tailback (UPDATED)
Junior Richard Samuel (22), here in Georgia's G-Day Game, was actually looking pretty good as a linebacker. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
In the wake of attrition at the running back position, Georgia announced Thursday that junior Richard Samuel will move back to tailback from linebacker.
Samuel, a former five-star prospect from Cartersville who was recruited at both positions, played tailback his first two seasons with the Bulldogs. He agreed to a move to linebacker last year, then redshirted. The 6-foot-2 athlete is now up to 243 pounds. He played tailback in the 225 to 230 range.
Georgia lost its top two tailbacks of the two last seasons — Caleb King and Washaun Ealey – to academic ineligibility and transfer, respectively, since the end of spring practice. True freshman Isaiah Crowell, junior Carlton Thomas and redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome were the only remaining tailbacks on scholarship.
Following is UGA’s release:
Georgia junior linebacker Richard Samuel of Cartersville will return to the tailback position, according to an announcement Thursday by UGA head coach Mark Richt. Samuel, who played tailback as a freshman and sophomore, had been moved to linebacker a year ago but injuries led to a redshirt season in 2010.
“After discussions with Richard, his family, and our coaches I’m excited that Richard wants to make the move,” Richt said. “He’s one of our fastest and most powerful players, is very mature, has a strong character and is a man we can count on. I’m proud of him for always putting the team first and I look forward to seeing what he can do.”
Said Samuel: “I’m excited about the opportunity at tailback. I’m ready to do anything that will help the team win.”
In his two seasons at tailback (2008-09), Samuel played in 22 games including six starts (all in 2009). He carried 114 times for 528 yards and three touchdowns.
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353 comments Add your comment
MarineDog
July 14th, 2011
7:45 pm
1953Dawg,
Why don’t you remove your personal agenda from the equation and have a discusiion that doesn’r involve getting rid of the coaching staff. You constantly belittle everything that happens there and if someone questions the statements you make that are inaccurate, they are deemed to be drinking kool-aid. Didn’t they have a 10 win season during that 3 year period you speak of. Didn’t they finish in the top 3 after the 2007 season.
You mentioned that Arkansas, Auburn and MissST have passed them up in the last few years. Do you think that these things goes in cycles.
For a guy with name of “1953″, you have a hard time articulating an intelligent debate without name-calling or fill in the blank foul language. How do you expect someone to even consider what you’re saying. I’m not going to get into an argument with you over your emotional temper tantrums. You have your opinion and I have mine. You’re not going to change mine and I’m sure that I’m not going to change yours. I’m just glad that you’re not the one that make the decisions about UGA football.
Sloan
July 14th, 2011
7:45 pm
Good luck to Richard Samuels! The coaches did this to Kiante Tripp for four years, back and forth from O-line to D-line. He never was able to make an impact anywhere as a result.
John
July 14th, 2011
7:46 pm
The Dawgs are a joke. Sorry boys. You better go to Rivals and read about your great recruiting run over the last 10 years. It will make you feel better. Lattimore can not wait to see the ole Silver Britches.
deacon
July 14th, 2011
7:47 pm
crowell and malcome are the real deal at the runningback position the offense is in good shape but having experience backup is plus in case of injury
Win P.
July 14th, 2011
7:47 pm
I like Samuel’s attitude.
No vision or speed?..I disagree
July 14th, 2011
7:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rw_6K3xzSU&feature=related
Win P.
July 14th, 2011
7:54 pm
1953dawg…Feel better now?
CHDawg
July 14th, 2011
7:54 pm
A few thoughts on the move: Positive–you have to love Samuel’s attitude! Great athlete, great speed, and most important–he just turned 20. He early enrolled 3.5 years ago when he was only 16, so that probably means he is smart, too! So he was a 17 year old running against a bunch of men who were probably 3-5 years older than him. Being an LB and really toughens you up as an RB–speaking from some experience on that one. We’ll see what he can do! On the negative side (possibly)- we have Malcome, Crowell, Thomas and Harton. They have gotten a good look at all of them in workouts, playbook studies, and discipline/demeanor. They have gotten good looks at all but Crowell on the field. They obviously don’t feel overwhelmed with any of them, including Crowell, because why else would they risk wasting a talented LB like Samuel? May be the first sign they don’t think Crowell will be another Lattimore type impact player. On the other hand, they could be impressed with some of the new LBs, or some of the older ones. But, this is where the coaches get paid to make the decisions, and we get to see how effective they are. Go Dawgs, and Go R. Samuel!
John
July 14th, 2011
7:54 pm
No vision or speed…Don’t you know Arkansas had a terrible defense. I feel sorry for Richard. He has net been used properly since he has been in Athens. What a waste of a great kid. Thanks Mark.
no reservations
July 14th, 2011
7:55 pm
Good move. All he needs to do is run with conviction and his talent
will take over.
UGA4life
July 14th, 2011
7:56 pm
Mark Richt has to be an idiot, why in the world doesn’t he just let the RB position play out when fall camp starts the season hasn’t even started and he’s moving players around like its a game…This is a players life he got redshirted because the coaches wanted him to play linebacker, just wasted a year of the kids life. You got to be kidding me, he would of been an amazing linebacker for UGA probably one of the best in years if they kept him at the position…Thats one reason CMR isn’t a great coach moving players around and don’t know how o utilize them from the get go!
drbasic1
July 14th, 2011
7:56 pm
@53 dawg
Dude, who p—- in your wheaties? If you are such a fan of other SEC teams and their rise to prominence as you keep mentioning; why not go route for one of them? I am nearly your age I guess and have been a dawg fan from Butts to Richt. Suffered ups and downs along the way. 3 off seasons and you call it sinking to the depths of the SEC? Maybe you have not watched and or cheered the same bulldogs as I have over the years. It seems you have a personal vendetta on Richt and that is none of my business. Maybe the fact he makes 2.5 million more than you may have something do with it, or maybe your wife has the hots for him and that irks you, i don’t know nor do I care. But you are either a fan and support or be a non-fan and berate but for goodness sake don’t be a fan and constantly bash the team or coaches. Being we are both somewhat older “mature” gentlemen, I feel i have a right to drink of the succulent “kool-aid” if I so desire as well as you do not if you wish. So I respectfully say…stick with the program or STFU! Good day sir.
deacon
July 14th, 2011
7:57 pm
to the sc fan with all the yards lattimore gained last year it took a uga mistake a fumble inside the ten for sc to get the win
7576DAWG
July 14th, 2011
7:58 pm
What ever happened to Richt raving about how good Malcomb looked in practice last year. If Malcomb isn’t progressing as CMR hoped then this move is a lot better than ever letting Thomas take another snap at Tailback. Everybody in the stadium knew Thomas was going to run the ball when he was put in as Tailback because he can’t do anything else. He is too small to block anybody so you were just wasting a play with him in the game.
Maybe this will work out . Maybe we expected too much from Sameuls when he was a freshman. But, if he starts fumbling once every fourth carry, just threw a number out there because it happened so frequently, again or their weakest defensive back can still tackle him , meaning he still can’t break tackles, then I hope this experiment want last more than a game or two.
Dawgs Tell
July 14th, 2011
7:58 pm
Thanks Samuel for being a damn good Dawg! However, the switching back and forth between positions is questionable.This is not high school ball.They(coaches) should have decided this young man’s position his sophomore year.I know the change is needed due to depth at running back,but is it fair to keep changing his position.I believe they should stick with what they had and roll the dice.It was their decisions to recruit Ealey and King even though it did not work out.You made the bed so lay in it.GO DAWGS.
lazlodawg
July 14th, 2011
7:59 pm
1953dawg – Richt deserves the opportunity to right the ship without such condemnation from self-rightous jerks like you. You know why? Because of the last second win at Auburn that led to the 2002 SEC Championship. Remember how you felt that day? Because we crushed their noses witj a hobnail boot against UT. Remember how you felt then? The second SEC championship in 2005. After 20 years of nothing, we had just won our second SEC championship. Do you forget that as well? Even if Richt has another bad season and gets fired, he’s still a Damn Good Dawg and deserves respect from the Bulldawg Nation. Show some class and support your team and your coach.
CHDawg
July 14th, 2011
8:04 pm
Proof skills are obviously in decline…being an LB really toughens you up….
Tide Roll
July 14th, 2011
8:04 pm
Also, Samuel’s stint at Linebacker can only help him. He undertands the reads and schemes.. He’s now better able to antcipate, which, at his speed, will be all he needs to bust one. In fact, it should be a requirement that all running backs play defense first to learn the same thing. Combine that with the benefits gained from his earlier learning experience as a 17 year old true frosh running back in the SEC, ( today he’s 230lb. grown man) and you’ve got something.
CHDawg
July 14th, 2011
8:09 pm
John, take a look at the ARK clip if you don’t think he has any burst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rw_6K3xzSU
Douglas
July 14th, 2011
8:09 pm
What a stupid decision. I agree with you 1953Dawg — he is not a great running back. He was a great LB in high school — he loved to hit people and make them pay. Just go back and look at his highlight tape. This is just stupid coaching. I am so tired of incompetent coaches. And you MarineDawg: I’m tired of look at what Richt has done over the time he has been here. How can you even say that? He is no longer the offensive playcalling coach and Bobo is not as good as Richt in playcalling. Other coaches hired in the SEC have surpassed Richt as a coach. Yeah, he can recruit pretty well but so can all the other SEC coaches. And players do not improve once they get to UGA.
MarineDog
July 14th, 2011
8:09 pm
Tide Roll,
You made some great points in your 8:04pm posting. I think that Samuel will do fine at RB. There’s a big difference between a 17 year old freshman and a 230lb junior. He has tremendous athletic ability and training in the LB position will enable hi to better read coverage. Outstanding post!
Randall "Pink" Floyd
July 14th, 2011
8:10 pm
Feel bad for Richard. He’s obviously a team player but UGA has not done him any favors in progressing as a football player.
Douglas
July 14th, 2011
8:11 pm
Lazlodawg: you are just like another bunch of dawg fans on here…always living in the past. Pathetic.
deacon
July 14th, 2011
8:13 pm
sept 3rd in the dome i got my tickets lets get it on you have seen the rumble in the jungle the thrilla in manilla it will be the beatdown in the A town for boise state
MarineDog
July 14th, 2011
8:14 pm
Douglas,
You and 1953Dawg seems to have all the answers. I think that I’m just going to wait and see how the season plays out. Trust me, we are tired of negative posters like you as well.
It seems that you both are not upset that UGA hasn’t won a MNC but rather that other SEC teams have won one.
Hunker
July 14th, 2011
8:15 pm
Richard Samuel carried the ball 114 times for 528 yards.
That equals over 4.63 yards per carry.
… Beat Boise State … Go Dawgs …
How do you know
July 14th, 2011
8:15 pm
How do you know that Richard did not go to the coach and ask to be put back at running back – maybe that is where his heart is and maybe that is what he wants to do. You people say he was not a good back but yet he avg. 4.7 ypc as a Fresh – all you doom and gloom people on here are a real piece of work -
D Bag Trolls!
July 14th, 2011
8:20 pm
Dougles: sorry about your bumble bees and there sanctions. Maybe this will keep them from cheating all the time.
Coach Paul Johnson
July 14th, 2011
8:20 pm
Can I join the DAWG nation? It sux being a tech coach, player or fan today.
dmr
July 14th, 2011
8:22 pm
Whether fans like the move or don’t like the move, grow up and realize this kid is making tremendous sacrifices to keep changing positions. Richard Samuel deserves nothing but praise and thanks for his selfless act and willing to put the TEAM over individual wants.
I think Samuel will be used to bridge the gap from games 1 to about 6 in the hopes the Crowell can get a handle on the job. I also think that this move is greatly dependent on what happens with the eligibility of Jarvis Jones.
In any event, give Samuels credit and a chance. I think he will surprise some people.
7576DAWG
July 14th, 2011
8:24 pm
Tide Roll
For someone who criticizes everything about Georgia you sure seem to care if they are doing the thinks that will win games. I think you want Georgia to do good except when Alabama is involved.
I like Mark Richt a lot and want him to stay at Georgia but I do agree with you that I wish we would get another offensive coordinator that could challenge Mark Richt than just complement every decision he makes because the coordinator thinks just like him. Two former Quarterback is not very good.
To be honest with you I would rather have a Head Coach that was a great Defensive Coordinator that’s why I am so encouraged that we brought Grantham in and was willing to pay a lot to for him. If CMR will not intervene and will let Grantham run the defense exactly the way he wants , cursing and all except when he is on TV, then I think Bulldawg nation will be very happy with our defense results this year.
dawgfan2003
July 14th, 2011
8:29 pm
I don’t really like the move. He could not hold on to the football which was Ealey’s problem as well. He also does not have any type of cut. He is fast and powerful and would be a very good fullback but I don’t know about him switching back to running back. They should at least play him both ways like that guy at Stanford (Owen Marecik? sorry for the spelling). This tells me that Crowell is not leading the way and stepping up like he should be. I would like to see Ken Malcome more because he looks strong and ready to play as long as he is healthy. I just see Samuel playing in the first two games before giving way to Crowell. Then seeing Samuel sit the bench and move back to linebacker for his Senior year. I hope I am wrong but it seems they are only moving him back to RB for insurance. I just think thats a bad move.
D Bag Trolls!
July 14th, 2011
8:34 pm
Trolling your life away?
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING THE DAWGS ON YOUR BRAIN DAILY!
Terry
July 14th, 2011
8:34 pm
On cbssports.com it only shows Samuel’s fumbled one time, and the other team recover out of 22 games, but some of you on here talk like he couldn’t hold on to the ball, where do y’all get this about him being unable to hold on to the ball? And to the guy who comment about Samuel’s gaining those yard on a weak Arkansas Defense, Samuel also averaged 4.3 yards per carry, and 7.7 yards receiving against SC, and 6.7 yards per carry against FL, and now he’s bigger and stronger, so I guess we will see what will happen come Fall.
JB
July 14th, 2011
8:34 pm
Love this guy! Great story and I’m hoping for a successful year for the kid. We could use many more like him!
DAWGalum09
July 14th, 2011
8:37 pm
1953Dawg is right. All you kool-aid drinkers are blind. WE’VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE! and he was beat out by King and Ealey
I’m starting to believe this staff is clueless
Jadeveon Clowney
July 14th, 2011
8:38 pm
Enter your comments here
Jadeveon Clowney
July 14th, 2011
8:40 pm
It doesn’t matter who is in the backfield, South Carolina’s defense will obliterate these wannabe’s
big john 360 lbs
July 14th, 2011
8:41 pm
I feel better about the coaches being proactive instead of reactive when C.Thomas, IC, or Boo goes down in the third game and we only have 2 scholly guys left.
Richard can be a Robert Edwards…we haven’t seen the boy play ball in over year.
Desperation runs amok
July 14th, 2011
8:44 pm
It’s desperation run amok with this team. CMR is trying to coach while looking over his shoulder at the next thing coming. CMR created this mess when he publicly embarrassed Ealey with that lame display letting the RB position empty on Crowell’s visit. There was no need for that dog and pony show. Richt should have let Crowell and Ealey settle it on the practice field.
Now they move back a guy that they banished to the bench, so I have to ask, is this the best use of his abilities. From what has been stated here in the past, Samuel was a better LB than he was a RB, and a lot on here were soooooooooooooooo happy that he was moved.
I hope that CMR realizes that CMB can not coach the offense like he has in the past. The depth of talent is not there; not at receiver, not at RB, not the OL. Keep in mind that they only have something like 28/29 practices to get everything ready by the first game.
So who will be ready first, the RB’s or the WR’s? Hopefully, CMB will realize that a balanced attack may not be an option, and he may have to rely on the passing game, or maybe it’ll be the running game, either way CMR can not just stand around playing the CEO roll and not give big time guidance to Bobo.
You got Murray, Charles, a couple of linemen, and I’ll even throw in King, but that’s it really. The defense has also got new unknowns/players. Sit back and quit being a fan, and this is a scary team. Here’s hoping that they can put it all together.
FLA DAWG
July 14th, 2011
8:50 pm
AltamahaDawg,
Where are you now boy?
Ha!
murray county mystic
July 14th, 2011
8:55 pm
@ lazlodawg …you are a prime example of the UGA kool-ade drinkers that can’t get enough of CMR,s junk…hob-nailed boot…2005…that was forever ago…CMR is the only person left from that period, a time when the SEC was not at it’s best and by UGA’s sucess at that time proves the SEC was weak…Its 2011…you have no depth…you do have a good kicking game…hate to CMR go…he’s been good for the blog business…Boise 38 -uga -17…because the mystic says so…
dap01
July 14th, 2011
8:57 pm
Bobo don’t have a clue how to utilize a running back or how to establish a running game. He calls a game like a flag football game and not a SEC game.
Richard, I am sorry for the poor management of your career but because of this you will forever be a GREAT DAWG!
deacon
July 14th, 2011
8:58 pm
with all of uga problems last year and sc success they are still concerned about uga and they should be sc football season success runs through athens always has always will !!!!!!!!!!!!woof woof
The Truth
July 14th, 2011
9:01 pm
Samuel couldn’t hold onto the ball 2 years ago, and won’t be able to this year either. It’s a shame that they’re jerking this kid around. I guess that speaks volumes about Crowell’s chances of playing as a freshman – guess he was overrated all along, just as I’d suspected. My gut feeling is that this move will officially start the countdown to Richt’s departure from Athens prior to Jan. 1, 2012. Maybe the AD will hire a coach with some fire and drive to be great on the field. Go Dawgs – GATA!
Boca Baby
July 14th, 2011
9:04 pm
I remember the last time we moved a linebacker to tailback. In 1978 Willie McClendon was moved and had a tremendous senior season. He was part of that “Underdawgs to Wonderdawgs” team of 1978.
The Truth
July 14th, 2011
9:05 pm
Hope you’re right, Boca!
Boca Baby
July 14th, 2011
9:06 pm
The Truth: So what is the differnce? Ealey and King couldn’t hold on to the ball either!
ARdawg
July 14th, 2011
9:08 pm
collegeballfan
Yes, I know the answer. In 09 Samuel had the job, it was his to lose and he did. He was a 17 year old freshman and didn’t respond well to the pressure as evidenced by his penchant for fumbling. He was a bit impatient and lacked vision. That doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be a very good TB now. He is very fast and very strong. His short comings his freshman year are very coachable.
The Truth
July 14th, 2011
9:12 pm
True – Damn King for his fumble at Colorado and Ealey against KY!